Journeys›Photograph

Parades and Pasta During Mardi Gras in New Orleans

·New Orleans, Louisiana·#travel#new-orleans#mardi-gras#winter-2020#parades
A vibrant night parade float with costumed people, a boat, and an illuminated underwater scene featuring a mermaid and sea creatures.

I visited New Orleans for a few days at the end of February 2020, landing right in the middle of the Mardi Gras celebrations. The night parades were the first thing I experienced. The streets were packed with people, all of us lined up behind barricades watching these huge, illuminated floats roll by. They were incredibly detailed, with themes ranging from nautical myths with mermaids to fantasy castles, all crewed by people in elaborate costumes.

The energy was high, with everyone in the crowd reaching for throws. The parades continued into the daytime, with a different but equally vibrant atmosphere under a cloudy sky. I saw a massive float dedicated to Jazz, a nod to the city's heritage, as it made its way through the downtown streets.

Away from the crowds, I found moments of quiet, like a simple dinner of pasta. The trip ended with a completely different perspective on the city. From a rooftop pool at dusk, I could see the skyline start to glow. It was a peaceful contrast to the celebratory chaos on the streets below, a calm moment to just watch the city lights come on.

A vibrant parade float with a boat and mermaid passes a nighttime crowd, with tall buildings in the background.A night parade scene with a large float featuring a figure in a chef's hat, surrounded by people with raised hands.A night parade features costumed people on decorated floats passing a large brick building under streetlights.A colorful parade float with costumed figures and spectators at night, in front of a multistory brick building.A vibrant night parade float with costumed figures and spectators passes a tall brick building.A plate of pasta with reddish-filled ravioli, dark green kale, and a light brown sauce, with a fork on the side.A multi-tiered parade float with people in costumes, a trumpet player, and a crowd with raised hands under an overcast sky.A bright blue illuminated rooftop swimming pool at dusk overlooks a city skyline with many lit buildings, including a prominent skyscraper.

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